Geet Govindam - Shrit Kamala Kuch Mandal

"Shrit Kamala Kuch Mandal" is the opening mangala hymn (ashtapadi) of the Gita Govinda, a Sanskrit poem by the poet-saint Jayadeva, who lived in the 12th century and is placed by tradition in the court of Lakshmana Sena of Bengal. The poem has twelve cantos and about twenty-four songs (ashtapadis), each with eight couplets. It tells the love of Radha and Krishna, and is read in the Vaishnava tradition as the soul''s longing for the Lord. This first song is a prayer of praise to Hari, and every verse ends with the same refrain: "Jai jai Deva Hare," meaning "victory, victory to the divine Hari." The exact numbering of the song varies by edition. It is very well known in the Jagannath temple tradition at Puri.

Verse 1: Lakshmi and the garland. "Shrit-kamala-kuch-mandala" hails Hari, who rests on the bosom of Kamala (Lakshmi), who wears earrings (dhrita-kundala) and a lovely garland of forest flowers (lalita-vanamala). It places Vishnu together with Lakshmi, the Lord and his grace.

Verse 2: the sun and the swan. He is the ornament of the sun''s disc (dinamani-mandala-mandana), the destroyer of worldly bonds (bhava-khandana) and the swan in the lake of the sages'' minds (munijana-manasa-hamsa). The swan is a Sanskrit image of purity and discernment, so the verse says that he is at home in the minds of those who are pure.

Verse 3: Kaliya and the Yadu line. He humbled the poisonous serpent Kaliya (kaliya-vishadhara-ganjana), gives joy to his people (jana-ranjana) and is the sun for the lotus of the Yadu family (yadukula-nalina-dinesha). The Kaliya story is told in the Bhagavata: Krishna danced on the serpent''s hoods in the Yamuna and freed the river from poison.

Verse 4: Madhu, Mura and Naraka. He destroyed the demons Madhu, Mura and Naraka (madhu-mura-naraka-vinashana), rides on Garuda (garudasana) and is the source of the gods'' joy (surakula-keli-nidana). See the Utpanna Ekadashi Katha for the story of Mura.

Verse 5: the lotus-eyed liberator. His eyes are like pure lotus petals (amala-kamala-dala-lochana), he frees from rebirth (bhava-mochana) and he is the treasure-house of the three worlds (tribhuvana-bhavana-nidhana).

Verse 6: the Rama avatar. "Janaka-suta-krita-bhushana" recalls him as the one whom Sita adorned, who defeated Dushana and ended the ten-headed Ravana in battle (samara-shamita-dashakantha). The verse shows the hymn moves from Krishna to other forms of Hari, as one Lord.

Verse 7: the cloud and the moon. He is beautiful like a fresh rain cloud (abhinava-jaladhara-sundara) and held the mountain Mandara (dhrita-mandara), in the tradition of the churning of the ocean. His beautiful face is the moon, and Radha, or the devotee, is the chakora bird that gazes at it (shrimukha-chandra-chakora). The chakora image is a classical sign of longing love.

Verse 8: surrender. "Tava charane pranata vayam iti bhavaya" says: think of us as those who have bowed at your feet. "Kuru kushalam pranateshu" asks him to do good to those who bow. It is the humble prayer after the praise.

Verse 9: the poet''s name. "Shri Jayadeva-kaveridam" names the poet and says that this auspicious, sweet song (mangala-manjula-gitam) gives joy. This is where Jayadeva''s own text ends.

A popular addition. The last lines in many printed texts, "Radhe Krishna Hare Govind Gopala, Nand ju ko lala, Yashoda dulala, Jai jai Deva Hare," are a later devotional addition often sung after the ashtapadi, and are not part of Jayadeva''s Sanskrit text.

The wider message. The hymn praises one Lord in many forms: Krishna, Rama and the other avatars of Vishnu, with Lakshmi, as protector, liberator and joy of the heart. It also shows the Vaishnava idea that praise leads to surrender. Benefits mentioned in tradition, such as peace and grace, are matters of faith and a devotional focus. See also the Krishna Chalisa, Radha Chalisa and Vishnu Chalisa.